• NASE Supports H.R. 230 to Help Micro-Businesses Comply
• 2005 NASE Scholarship Recipients Announced
• House to Focus on Health Care NEXT WEEK
• House Small Business Committee Swiftly Approves Legislation
• July Member Poll: Federal Tax Reform

NASE Supports H.R. 230 to Help Micro-Businesses Comply

Representative John Sweeney The NASE believes that micro-business owners need assistance in regulation compliance, not more burdensome rules. H.R. 230, the National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005, would expand the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program to include resources to promote regulatory compliance among small businesses. “The ultimate hardship faced by this unique segment of the business population is the complexity and vagueness of rules issued by federal agencies,” said NASE president Robert Hughes in a letter of support to the bill’s sponsor, Representative John Sweeney (R-NY). “The burden imposed on micro-businesses is disproportionate to that of larger businesses because smaller firms cannot spread the overhead costs associated with hiring accountants and attorneys to try and comply with the maze of federal regulations.” The bill would direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance through SBDCs in the following areas: Access to regulatory information and resources Training and education activities Confidential counseling to small business owners regarding compliance with federal and state regulations Technical Assistance In a recent NASE online member poll, 61 percent of respondents said programs offered by the federal government are valuable and helpful to small businesses. In the poll results, the SBDC program was one of the most well-known federal small business programs, second only to the SBA business loan programs. “Programs like the Small Business Development Centers have a proven track record and help those wanting to start or develop micro-businesses,” said executive director of the NASE legislative offices Kristie Darien. “The NASE fully supports the integration of regulatory compliance resources into the SBDCs and hopes that the SBA will work to increase awareness of such resources to micro-business owners.” “We believe that no written guidebook, online or phone compliance assistance can outweigh the benefits of the one-on-one assistance micro-business owners and self-employed individuals receive at their local Small Business Development Centers,” said Hughes. For more information on the NASE position on federal small business programs, visit http://advocacy.NASE.org. Tell your legislators to support these important bills by visiting the online NASE Legislative Action Center at http://advocacy.NASE.org.

2005 NASE Scholarship Recipients Announced

Continuing its 16 year tradition, The National Association of the Self-Employed has selected its 2005 Scholarship Recipients. Each of these twenty students will receive a $4,000 award toward educational expenses at the college of their choice. Dustin Deveport, Roswell, NM Matthew Dickman, Orinda, CA Jessica Gamble, Boxford, MA Christina Guymon, Blanding, UT Marcelo Hildebrandt, Wooster, OH Zachary Hourmouzis, Middleburg Heights, OH Lindsay Joos, Glenside, PA Devin Kirschner, Arcata, CA Julie Kovin, Potomac, MD Kathleen Krupinski, Failrfax, VA Aaron Langford, San Antonio, TX Brian Langford, San Antonio, TX Alicia Lincoln, Fitchburg, MA Jacob Morrisroe, Waterford, MI Annessa Musgrove, Albion, CA Erin Rauh, Chaddsford, PA Jo Skillman, Mt. Vernon, TX Robert Ward, Webbers Falls, OK Candace Webb, Wilson, NC Amanda Vanarsdale, Biglerville, PA The NASE Scholarship Program is the largest of its kind in the United States. The program was born out of the association's desire to level the playing field between the self-employed and their corporate counterparts when it comes to financial assistance for their children's education. Since children of micro-business owners do not have access to scholarships through their parents' employment, this program was established to give them such an opportunity. Each year, scholarships are awarded to outstanding students pursuing any field of study. Since the program's inception in 1989, more than $1 million in scholarships has been awarded to dependents of NASE Members. The highlight of the program is the Future Entrepreneur scholarship. This award is the nation's only major scholarship supporting the philosophy of entrepreneurship rather than a specific professional. It is worth up to $24,000. This year's Future Entrepreneur is Whitney Boyce of Utopia, Texas. For more information on the NASE’s scholarship program, visit http://www.NASE.org.

House to Focus on Health Care NEXT WEEK

House Republicans have set aside next week to focus on health care issues. Contact your legislators this week to let them know your thoughts on the ever-rising cost of health care. Tell them to support the elimination of the self-employment tax on your health insurance costs, association health plans, health tax credits, and expansion of health savings accounts! Contact them by visiting the online NASE Legislative Action Center at http://advocacy.NASE.org.

House Small Business Committee Swiftly Approves Legislation

Last week the House Small Business Committee quickly approved four bills with a voice vote to proceed to the House floor for a vote. Votes could occur as soon as this week. H.R. 230, the National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005, as mentioned above, would allow Small Business Development Centers to provide free and confidential advice to small businesses on how to comply with federal regulations. The committee adopted an amendment by Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) that would require the Small Business Administration to create a Web site that would give regulatory compliance information. Additionally, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) proposed similar legislation in the Senate last week. H.R. 3207, the Second-Stage Small Business Development Act of 2005, would create a program to help businesses in the second stage, that is, businesses with an average annual revenue or employee growth of at least 15 percent for the last three years. The program award grants to states to create programs to bring leaders of such businesses together. H.R. 527, the Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2005, would provide grants of at least $250,000 to state Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to offer technical assistance to promote vocational and technical entrepreneurship. The statewide SBDCs would also collect information regarding vocational and technological entrepreneurship education opportunities. H.R. 2981 would encourage SBDCs to reach out to Native Americans and Hawaiian or Alaskan tribe members by getting advice from tribal councils on how to better assist small businesses. Eligible states would have at least one percent of its population comprised of such members. The grants would be up to $300,000 per state. The NASE supports these bill and further development of Small Business Development Centers. They provide invaluable assistance to entrepreneurs in this country. The NASE will continue to follow these bills in Congress. For more information on the NASE position on federal small business programs, visit http://advocacy.NASE.org. Tell your legislators to support these important bills by visiting the online NASE Legislative Action Center at http://advocacy.NASE.org.

July Member Poll: Federal Tax Reform

Take the online member poll on federal tax reform. The NASE has been following the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform closely and wants to hear your thoughts. Let the NASE know your opinions on tax reform by visiting the MyNASE Web site at http://my.nase.org/. Log in to your free MyNASE Web Account. If you have not set up an account, you can do so at http://my.nase.org/. Take this survey during the month of July.